Welcome to TEAConnect - the official media relations center and social media hub of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), the international alliance for the creators of compelling experiences and places. This is a platform for major announcements from the association, selected articles, and a gateway to other TEA websites, resources for the themed entertainment community and press information.

Monday, April 29, 2013

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is now calling for nominations to begin forming the permanent Board of Directors of its new Asia Pacific Division. The initial Board Officers will include a President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Liaison and Public Relations/Communications Coordinator. Deadline for
consideration is May 10, 2013.

Prospective candidates should be TEA members based in the Asia Pacific region who are in good standing or are actively engaged in the member application process. TEA Asia Pacific Division Board Directors shall serve for either two- or three-year terms. All TEA members based in the Asia Pacific region will be eligible to vote for their candidates of choice in this first stage election.

Once installed, the initial six Directors shall elect officers and assign initial responsibilities, among which will be conducting a second set of elections to expand the board’s total number and diversity of directors.

Individuals interested in being considered for the first-stage election should send a one-page letter to the Nominations Committee. The letter should address the following:

The Board position they are interested in

Their reasons for wishing to serve

Description of their primary business, location of their primary office in Asia and of any other offices around the world

An explanation of what they can bring to TEA via their Board involvement

The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) recently announced it is forming an Asia Pacific Division
to help organize and produce social networking mixers, educational
events, behind the scenes tours and other activities of interest and
value to TEA members and their clients throughout the region. An interim
Board for the new Division was formed at that time.The TEA is an international alliance
founded in 1991 and based in Burbank, California. Some 850 TEA members
represent roughly 7,500 creative specialists, from architects to
designers, technical specialists to master planners, scenic fabricators
to artists, and builders to feasibility analysts working in 30 U.S.
states and 40 different countries. TEA International Board president is Christine Kerr of BaAM Productions.

The Themed Entertainment Association welcomes proposals for its annual SATE Conference - a professional dialog on Experience Design, to be held October 3&4, 2013 in Savannah, Georgia USA at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD). SATE is an annual, international gathering of themed entertainment and experience design creators, producers, owners and operators. As such, it explores issues, opportunities and possibilities relating to the creation of compelling guest experiences for entertainment, education, retail and branding. Each year a new theme is emphasized and explored through the lenses of the specific elements that contribute to successful guest attractions and projects: Storytelling, Architecture, Technology and Experience (SATE).

SATE’13 Theme and Areas of Emphasis
Exploring Storytelling, Architecture, Technology and Experience with a look at what’s coming and how it will…

Shape content

Be impacted by products and services

Leverage tools and technologies

Influence design

…. and engage the next generation of guests.

Members of the attractions industry with expertise in one of the SATE areas described above are encouraged to send in proposals to TEA. Proposals could highlight a growing trend or technology of importance to the community, and/or the desire to organize and/or moderate a panel that explores areas relevant to those listed above. Proposals should be in the form of a brief description (one page or less) of the topic and, if proposing a panel, a list of the experts who would participate in the panel.

SATE proposal options also include making suggestions of featured speakers - individuals who represent outstanding creative thinking, accomplishment and leadership in the field of Experience Design who would be an inspiring model to SATE attendees.

Proposals should be sent to Gene Jeffers, Gene@TEAconnect.org no later than May 10, 2013 for consideration by the SATE organizing committee.

Burbank, California USA, April 11, 2013 -- “The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is pleased to announce the formation of the Asia Pacific Division,” said TEA International Board President Christine Kerr of BaAM Productions. “With so much industry activity in the region, the Association is forming this new division to help organize activities and events, and to help improve our understanding of and dialog with our member companies and their clients throughout the region.” The TEA is an international alliance of individuals and companies that design, build and create compelling places and experiences, from theme parks to museums, from corporate brand centers to live spectacular events. (www.teaconnect.org) As a creative community, members of TEA gain opportunities for international and regional networking and collaborating within the themed entertainment and experience design industry. The flow of information helps improve the quality of guest experiences and the success of owner-operators. To best ensure that this interchange occurs at the regional level, the Association has divisions that organize and produce social networking mixers, educational events, behind the scenes tours and other activities of interest and value to TEA members and their clients. The Asia Pacific Division will be the fourth regional division formed by the TEA, joining the Eastern North America, Europe & Middle East and Western North America Divisions. “An interim Asia Division Board has been appointed to assist with the election and installation of a permanent board, and Chris Conte of Electrosonic has agreed to act as president during this all important formation period,” said Kerr.

Chris Conte, interim president, TEA Asia Pacific Division

“The formation of the Asia Division is an incredibly exciting moment for the TEA and the industry,” said Conte in accepting the interim presidency. “It recognizes the importance of the many companies and talent working across the region that are creating compelling places and experiences, and the need for the TEA to take a more integrated role in helping to support and organize those firms and their clients as they endeavor to design and build ever successful attractions and projects. Forming a permanent Asia Division Board as quickly as possible is the goal and focus of our interim group.” An election by TEA members
based in the region will be held to determine the permanent members of
the Asia Division Board, with the results to be announced before the
Asia Attractions Expo 2013 (IAAPA Asia) in Singapore in June of this
year. A call for candidates will be released next, and all TEA members
working in the region are encouraged to consider running for the initial
TEA Asia Division Board of Directors.

About the TEA The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) is an international alliance founded in 1991 and based in Burbank, California. Some 850 TEA members represent roughly 7,500 creative specialists, from architects to designers, technical specialists to master planners, scenic fabricators to artists, and builders to feasibility analysts working in 30 U.S. states and 40 different countries. TEA presents the annual Thea Awards Gala and the TEA Summit Conference, and hosts the annual SATE Conference (Storytelling, Architecture, Technology, Experience). TEA also produces a variety of print and electronic publications, including the TEA/AECOM Theme Index, TEA Project Development Guidelines, TEA Annual & Directory, and Thea Awards Program magazine. Visit www.TEAConnect.org for more information.